American Animation art-Cream of the Crop?

Strictly-Dragonball · Post by **Strictly-Dragonball** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:50 am

Just a general discussion here about the American studio cel market. I only collect from one Japanese series and know that market pretty well now but we all know how different the American market can be at times lol.

Basically I was just thinking to myself what is the most desired or considered the holy grail of animation cels?

It's got to be a toss between either Disney which is self explanatory or Warner Bros. which includes a whole host of characters.

However; then there is Hanna Barbera artwork such as Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo etc... all of which I know cost a fortune and if you are after say an original production Tom and Jerry good luck finding it.

Just wondered what you guys consider top and how you justify it? I'm really stuck between Disney and Warner Bros. (Specifically any and all Chuck Jones works) because well Disney is self explanatory really being the foundation of many generations of children’s television entertainment. Then, you have Warner Bros. where the majority of the early cels were lost or destroyed making them extremely rare.

Imagine for example and original Bugs from the 1950's with an original matching background VS an Ariel from the Little Mermaid. I'd have to give that to Warner Bros.

So what in your opinions is the most sought-after?

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:41 am

Really, I would say Disney. If you look at Star-Phoenix's
gallery, she has some of the most lovely, and I am sure
VERY expensive, pieces of original Disney artwork that
are just breat taking.

jcaliff · Post by **jcaliff** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:51 am

I would say it depends on the piece. You're not going to pay as much for a cel from something like Oliver and Co. as you will for a classic Chuck Jones WB production cel from What's Opera Doc or something like that. You would probably pay more for a 1940s Tom and Jerry theatrical feature cel than you would for a cel from recent Disney films or certain WB shorts. But classic, high-end Disney is probably number 1 price-wise, especially when you're looking at quality examples.

Startyde · Post by **Startyde** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:03 pm

I would have to agree and go with Disney. Gargoyles fans are particuarily crazed.

Though it's not American (or Japanese for that matter) Transformers cels, particuarily the movie are amazingly sough after.

DIC cels aren't worth the plastic their painted on in more cases than not, though I do love my COPS opening sequence.

Strictly-Dragonball · Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:20 pm

Yeah I agree. Disney is Disney there is nothing else to say really lol, it's just so interesting to consider because there are so many factors to be taken into account, for example recent Warner Bros. production art comes at a very affordable price.

It's all to do with whether the cels are vintage I think and/or classic, but god a cel from 'What's Opera Doc' anyone ever seen one? An original.

A lot of people think it's the greatest cartoon short ever.

Killua · Post by **Killua** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:27 pm

The Rabbit of Seville was also a ridiculously awesome cartoon. I think those two are definitely the best Merry Melodies episodes. Key scenes would probably rank alongside top Disney movie shots, but I've never seen them anywhere.

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch also can command fairly high prices, sometimes going above Disney cels with matching bg's.

Disney cels from the 80s don't tend to be very valuable. I saw a (admittedly not very good) shot of Dodger from Oliver and Company with the master background sell for something like 14 bucks on Ebay several months back.

beatrush · Post by **beatrush** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:01 pm

Startyde wrote:DIC cels aren't worth the plastic their painted on in more cases than not, though I do love my COPS opening sequence.

I find with DIC cels, its certain characters and not any particular series that commands the high prices such as Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget.

Killua wrote:You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch also can command fairly high prices, sometimes going above Disney cels with matching bg's.

Dr Seuss cels go for stupid amounts of money. I saw a D grade cel of the Cat in the Hat go for $1k on ebay awhile ago.

I would like to echo some of what has been said. Certain Disney and Warner cels command the high price points along with certain shows like G1 Transformers, Peanuts and Flight of Dragons.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:01 pm

What did it look like to you?

jcaliff · Post by **jcaliff** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:45 pm

My DiC Teddy Ruxpin cels may not be worth much on the market, but they're priceless to me.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:45 pm

Your DiC Teddy Ruxpin cels may not be worth much on the market but they are priceless to me?

Strictly-Dragonball · Post by **Strictly-Dragonball** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:48 pm

Oddly enough a lot of the Dr. Seuss I have seen during my interest in cel collecting have been Key set-ups with matching background and thus some 5 figure price tags I have seen in the past for these!

I think it's funny with Disney because some of the later works aren't worth very much at all as Killua pointed out. But whenever I see a Disney cel go for cheap I always wonder why regardless

I've seen original backgrounds from early Daffy Duck shorts sell for thousands upon thousands then there was also a key Miyazaki Totoro set-up on a previous BWA which sold at $27,000.

Ah... cel collecting is such a wonderful little hobby, so easy for newcomer's to get straight into

lol.

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:48 pm

It really depends on the fan-base of the series/movie that you are attempting to buy production art from. After all, even Disney has produced some serious ****. Likewise, some "inferior" studios like DIC have produced some classic children's series -- maybe they won't command 4+ digit prices, but I've seen some ridiculously fierce competition over cels from shows like Rainbow Brite.

In short: they are all expensive and cheap - it just depends on what you're after.

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:19 pm

Startyde wrote:
DIC cels aren't worth the plastic their painted on in more cases than not, though I do love my COPS opening sequence.

I don't know about DIC - ya a lot of their cartoons were crappy but then they produced two of my favorite three toons ever: Sonic and Inspector Gadget. I have box sets of both and whenever I sit down to watch them I am always surprised by how good the animation really is, especially Gadget. I would love to get a cel of Rainbow Brite for my sister but they are super hard to find.

Sonic SatAM cels are always expensive because of Sonic's true blue fan base and becuase they are so rare. I recently got into a bid war on ebay and spent $700 on DIC Sonic SatAM OP cel. I've only seen a couple other SatAM OP cels and they are always well over $300. Sketches and production drawings usually go for under $100.

I also collect from Inspector Gadget and I'd say most cels arebetween $50 and $200. But I haven't seen any high end cels appear yet - like OP cels or key master set-ups - hopefully one day I will find out how much they go for.

It seems like the cels of Brain in disguise go for a lot, and also cels of Dr. Claw (well of his hand lol). My cel of Mad Cat was $45. But stay away from production artwork from Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas - it stinks.

As for the rest, definately Disney's better films and Chuck Jones artwork is the most expensive. I get around a lot of the Chuck Jones prices by collecting from Gay Purr-ee. Its a really cute movie Chuck Jones produced with his wife. He actually got fired from WB for breaking his contract to work on it. Cels from it are kind of rare and they usually go between $300 and $500, but I've gotten deals in the past.

I collect from Scooby-Doo as well and the cels are usually too expensive for me to care. With Hanna-Barbara's limited animation techniques a lot of Scooby Cels just don't look...nice - even if they are from the original 1969 series. I've seen some awesome sketches by Iwao Takamoto go for cheap on Ebay and I just don't understand why - he fricken created Scooby!

And then there are always the Don Bluth films! In my opinion, Secret of NIMH and All Dogs Go to Heaven were waaaay better than *most* Disney films and usually you wont pay more than $500.

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:23 pm

definately have to go with Disney.
why? hmmm. i know that the warner brothers and the disney stuff are equally very very hard to come by. but i think that Disney has a much broader fanbase.

lcatino · Post by **lcatino** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:38 pm

WB & Disney would definitely take the top slots for American animation, but Disney artwork seems to be more sought after by collectors, perhaps because the movies are that popular.

The artwork really is stunning, and Star Phoenix definitely has some beauties in her gallery!